Need to get rid of a couch or other furniture because of Ann Arbor’s Couch Ban Law? Read this press release from the City of Ann Arbor, MI.

FREE SOFA COLLECTION EVENT IS OCT. 22-24

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Sept. 29, 2010 In response to the recent passage of a city ordinance that prohibits the outdoor storage of upholstered furniture, the City of Ann Arbor is providing a free sofa collection event for Ann Arbor residents and property managers from Friday noon, October 22, through Sunday, October 24, 2010 at a drop-off area located at the intersection of East University and Oakland streets. The hours of daily operation will be 12 noon to 5 p.m.

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Those leaving any other types of materials, depositing furniture from non-Ann Arbor properties, or using the site during off- hours are subject to illegal dumping fines. The collection site will be actively monitored on a 24-hour basis.
Ann Arbor’s new ordinance, referred by some as the “porch couch ban,” goes into effect Oct. 2, 2010, but will have an amnesty period to allow residents to properly dispose of their upholstered furniture. The ordinance passed following the momentum of public sentiment related to a tragic off campus area house fire, exacerbated by a porch couch, which resulted in the death of a student this past summer. Ann Arbor joins many campus communities disallowing upholstered furniture, including East Lansing, Kalamazoo, Mount Pleasant, Ypsilanti, and Marquette in Michigan as well as Columbus, Ohio, and Madison, Wisconsin.

Sofas and other items that do not fit into the city’s refuse carts are subject to fines if abandoned at the curb. For-fee suggestions for disposing of furniture, including taking materials to the Drop-Off Station at 2950 E. Ellsworth, 734.971.7400 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 734.971.7400 end_of_the_skype_highlighting are posted on the city’s Web site under “bulky items” at www.a2gov.org/recycle.

The Ann Arbor Couch Ban is legal effective October 2, 2010. The very first item says that the City of Ann Arbor is going to find any and every person responsible for any upholstered furniture left outside the home.

“For purposes of this section, “responsible person” shall mean a property owner, tenant, occupant, lessee, and any agent of the foregoing. Each responsible person is individually and separately liable and each responsible person may be found responsible for the same conditions on the property that violate this section.”

The fines are pretty stiff too for the couch ban! Possibly over $1,000.

So here’s the deal —>

1. Please abide by this law.

2. University Places house rules include no inside furniture stored outside.

3. We’ll gladly take away the furniture for you and you can reimburse us for this expense.

Here is the couch ban ordinance.

Notice that “specified time period” is not specified.

New Couch Ban / “Renden’s Law”

Ban on Upholstered Furniture Outdoors

Approved: September 20, 2010
Effective: October 2, 2010
An ordinance to amend section 1:17 of Chapter 1 (Adoption, Contents and Interpretation) of Title I of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor and to add a new section 9:7 to Chapter 106 (Nuisances) of Title IX of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor.
The City of Ann Arbor Ordains:
9.7. Outdoor Storage
(1) For purposes of this section, “responsible person” shall mean a property owner, tenant, occupant, lessee, and any agent of the foregoing. Each responsible person is individually and separately liable and each responsible person may be found responsible for the same conditions on the property that violate this section.
(2) For purposes of this section, “agent” shall mean any person with real or apparent authority to act on behalf of another person, and shall include but is not limited to a person who manages or operates the property for the owner, receives notices or process for the owner, acts in any other way as the representative of the owner, or is designated as an agent or representative in the registry of the owners and premises kept by the City pursuant to Chapter 105 (Housing Code) of the Ann Arbor Code of Ordinances.
(3) No responsible person shall place, or permit to remain, upholstered furniture which is not intended or designed for outdoor se on exterior balconies, porches, decks, landings, or other areas exposed to the weather.
(4) Notice to any responsible person by the City of a violation of this section and order to correct the violation within a specified time period may be made by mailing it to the responsible person (in the case of an owner as shown on assessment records), delivering it to the responsible person, or posting it at a conspicuous place on the property.
(5) In addition to or in lieu of charging a violation of this section, if any violation remains uncorrected after expiration of the time period in a notice, then the City may remove the item identified in the notice or have it removed in any reasonable manner. The cost to the City for the removal and allocable staff time shall be charged to the responsible person and, if the responsible person is a property owner, then any such unpaid costs may be, assessed against the property in accordance with section 1:292 of Chapter 13 of this Code.
(6) Violation of this section shall be a civil infraction punishable by a civil fine of up to $1,000, plus costs and all other remedies available by statute. If the fine is not paid within 45 days, and if the responsible person is a property owner, then it may be assessed against the parcel under Section 1:292 of Chapter 13 of this Code.
(7) The following shall constitute specific defenses to any alleged violation of this provision:
a. That such furniture was placed in an outside location in order to allow it to be moved during a move of a resident or residents or removed as part of a trash or recycling program on a day scheduled for such moving or removal.
b. That such furniture was temporarily placed in an outside location in order that it be offered for sale at a yard or garage sale if each of the following conditions exists:
i. The furniture is located in an outside location only during the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
ii. The person attempting to sell the furniture, or that person’s agent, is outside during the period of the yard or garage sale in order to monitor the sale.
iii. A sign is placed on or near the furniture indicating that it is for sale.
iv. This defense shall not apply if upholstered furniture is located in an outside location for more than two days in any six-month period.
(8) This ordinance will be incorporated into the “Rights and Duties of Tenants” booklet.
For more information about the couch ban, contact the City of Ann Arbor Clerk’s Office at (734) 794-6140.